Hand-mounted indicia-reading device with finger motion triggering

ABSTRACT

A wearable indicia reader is worn on the back of a user&#39;s hand such that the act of pointing the user&#39;s index finger is sufficient to align the indicia reader and trigger the indicia-reading process. Triggering is achieved by sensing the user&#39;s finger in an image or by breaking a light path in a photogate.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of barcode scanners and, more specifically, to the triggering of hand-worn indicia readers.

BACKGROUND

Generally speaking, wearable barcode scanners promote productivity and mobility for users who need to scan a large number of barcodes while also keeping their hands free. Under these circumstances, picking up and putting down a scanner would be tedious and distracting. What is more, non-wearable scanners can be easily dropped and damaged, leading to repair costs and losses in productivity.

Wearable scanners, such as a ring-mounted scanner, employ a barcode scanner worn like a ring on a user's right or left index finger. The ring-mounted scanner is connected to either a computer or wireless communication device worn on the wrist and attached to the ring scanner via a flexible cable. The scanner is powered by a battery so that the user is free to move around.

To use a ring-mounted scanner, the user points at a barcode to center the barcode within the scanner's field of view (i.e., scan line). Once centered, the user presses a push button, built into the side of the ring-mounted scanner, to initiate (i.e., trigger) the barcode scan.

Ring-mounted scanners are typically used in high-volume work environments, such as warehouses. Here, thousands of barcodes may be scanned during a routine shift. Mechanical push buttons (i.e., mechanical switches) on ring-mounted scanners pose reliability and serviceability concerns. Removing this push button would extend the service-free life of the scanner and potentially save the user from costs associated with repair and/or replacement. In addition, productivity losses resulting from scanner downtime would be reduced or eliminated. Therefore, a need exists for a wearable scanner, like the ring-mounted scanner but with a non-mechanical triggering method.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention embraces an indicia-reading device for reading indicia, such as barcodes. In an exemplary embodiment, the indicia-reading device is triggered by the natural motion of the user's finger (e.g., index finger). Once triggered, the indicia-capturing subsystem acquires information about the indicia within the indicia-capturing subsystem's field of view. This information is then decoded by the indicia-decoding subsystem. Next, an input/output subsystem can be used for relaying decoded signals to a host computer.

The indicia-capturing subsystem and the indicia-decoding subsystem are substantially enclosed by a hand-mounted housing, all of which are worn together on a user's hand and powered by a battery (e.g., a rechargeable battery). The indicia-reading device's hand-mounted housing is worn on the back of a user's hand so that both of the user's hands are free. The hand-mounted housing is positioned by finger rings for the user's middle and ring fingers so that the motion of the user's index finger (e.g., pointing at indicia) triggers the indicia-reading process.

Some indicia-reading devices have indicia-capturing subsystems (i.e., scan engines) that use image sensors to capture indicia information via image processing. Others use laser scanning to determine indicia information via the reflected light resulting from a laser beam scanned across the indicia.

Indicia-capturing subsystems, which use an image sensor (i.e., area scan engine), capture images within the image sensor's field of view. An imaging lens is used to project the indicia-reader's field of view onto a plurality of pixels, each pixel acting as a detector for a small portion of the field of view. When the indicia-reading device uses an image sensor, a processor may be used to detect the movement of the user's finger within the indicia-reader's field of view. The detection of this finger motion forms the basis of an image-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism that is used to start (i.e., trigger) an indicia-reading sequence.

When the indicia-capturing subsystem uses a scanned laser beam (i.e., linear scan engine), a photogate may be configured to detect the movement of the user's finger in order to start an indicia-reading sequence. The photogate uses a light source to create a light beam that acts as a sort of tripwire. A photogate housing supports the light source and positions it to face toward an opposite-facing detector. The movement of the user's finger disrupts the beam in the photogate-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism, and the indicia-reading sequence is started.

The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplary objectives and/or advantages of the invention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, are further explained within the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically depicts the block diagram of a hand-mounted indicia-reading device.

FIG. 2 schematically depicts the block diagram of a linear indicia-capturing subsystem (i.e., linear scan engine).

FIG. 3 schematically depicts the block diagram of an area indicia-capturing subsystem (i.e., area scan engine).

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary hand-mounted indicia-reading device with an image-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary hand-mounted indicia-reading device with an image-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism as worn and used.

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary hand-mounted indicia-reading mechanism with a photogate-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary hand-mounted indicia-reading device with a photogate-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism as worn and used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As schematically depicted in the block diagram of FIG. 1, a hand-mounted indicia-reading device can have an indicia-capturing subsystem 20 for converting indicia (e.g., a barcode 130) into an electric raw signal 17 and an indicia-decoding subsystem 50 for recognizing and deciphering the information encoded into the electric raw signal 17 and then for relaying this decoded signal 18 in digital form to another system (e.g., a storage device or an input/output subsystem). The indicia-reading device contains these subsystems within a hand-mounted housing 60 or otherwise attached to a hand-mounted support. A non-mechanical trigger mechanism 70 can be used to initiate an indicia-reading sequence (i.e., a scan sequence) via an electric trigger signal 85.

The barcode 130 is captured and converted into an electric raw signal 17 by the indicia-capturing subsystem 20. Upon triggering, this electric raw signal 17 is sent to the indicia-decoding subsystem 50 for processing. Here, a processor (e.g., the processing core of a microcontroller) decodes the electric raw signal 17, rendering it into a digital decoded signal 18 that represents the indicium (e.g., the barcode).

The operating characteristics of the hand-mounted device for reading indicia are derived from the attributes of the indicia-capturing subsystem 20 (i.e., scan engine). The scan engine illuminates or scans a barcode 130 with transmitted radiation 12 (e.g., light) and converts the reflected radiation (e.g., reflected light 14) from a barcode 130 into either an analog or digital electric raw signal 17 depending on the scan engine architecture.

One kind of scan engine, used in hand-mounted indicia-reading devices, is known as a linear (i.e., 1-D) scan engine. A block diagram of this engine type is shown in FIG. 2. In the linear scan engine 30, a laser beam 32 generated by a laser diode 31 is focused onto a barcode 130 by a scanning lens 35. A reciprocating scanning mechanism 33 scans the beam back and forth across the barcode 130. The process of scanning the laser beam across a barcode generates reflected light 14 that is modulated by the light and dark areas of the 1-D barcode. This reflected light 14 is collected by a detection lens 37 that focuses the reflected light 14 onto a detector (e.g., a photodiode) 38. What results from the linear scan engine 30 is an electric raw signal 17 (i.e., an analog signal) that represents the barcode information. These scan engines are mechanically robust and can be used for long-range scanning. As the name suggests, however, 1-D scan engines can only scan linear 1-D barcodes.

To scan two-dimensional barcodes (e.g., QR codes) an area (i.e., 2-D) scan engine may be used. 2-D scan engines are known for their adaptability to different indicia, and because they lend themselves to advanced image-processing algorithms that facilitate improved scan performance. As depicted in FIG. 3, the area scan engine 40 may include a multi-element image sensor (e.g., a CCD) 49, instead of a scanned laser beam, to acquire indicia information.

In the area scan engine 40, illumination from a light source (e.g., LED) 42 illuminates an indicium (e.g., a 1-D or 2-D barcode). This illumination provides enough reflected light 14 for the image sensor 49 to acquire a good image. The shape and extent of the illumination light 41 is controlled by the illumination aperture 43 (e.g., square aperture) and the illumination lens 44.

In addition to illumination, aiming light 39 may also be projected as a pattern (e.g., cross-hair) onto the barcode 130 for the purpose of aligning and positioning the indicia reader with respect to the barcode 130. The aiming pattern results from an aiming light source 45 (e.g., a light emitting diode) transmitting (e.g., shining) through an aiming aperture 46 and, via an aiming lens 47, imaging onto the barcode 130.

In some embodiments, illumination is used without aiming. In others, aiming may be used without illumination. In still another embodiment, neither the illumination nor the aiming modules is used in the area scan engine 40. The configuration depends on the application details.

To capture the indicia information, the area scan engine 40 uses an imaging lens 48 to focus the reflected light 14 from the illuminated and aligned barcode 130 onto a plurality of pixels within the image sensor 49 (e.g., CCD). The pixels in the image sensor 49 can be thought of as tiny photodetectors, each receiving a small portion of the entire scene. Readout circuitry in the image sensor 49 creates an electric raw signal 17 representing the electronic response of each pixel so that a gray scale image of the field of view can be constructed.

Color image sensors 49 may also be used in an area scan engine 40 to provide color images. In a color image sensor 49, filters representing a primary (i.e., basis) color set (e.g., red, green, and blue) are arranged in a pattern (e.g., Bayer pattern) over the image sensor's pixels. A color image is created by measuring or interpolating the basis color responses for each image pixel. For example, each pixel in a color image is constructed by the red, green, and blue signal levels associated with that portion of the image. Color image sensors can be used to capture either black-and-white or colored indicia.

Either a gray scale or color image sensor may be used in an area scan engine 40 depending on the application (e.g., color image sensors could be used with colored indicia). In either case, what results from an area scan engine is an electric raw signal 17 representing the image of the barcode 130.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the indicia-reading sequence (i.e., scan sequence) is initiated by the trigger signal 85. After the device is powered on, it operates in stand-by mode 75 awaiting a trigger signal 85. In the stand-by mode 75, the hand-mounted indicia-reading device repeatedly captures indicia information and converts it to electric raw signals 17. A processor continually monitors conditions for triggering. When a trigger condition is met (e.g., a signal exceeds a threshold value), the hand-mounted indicia-reading device moves out of stand-by mode 75 and the indicia-reading sequence commences. In the indicia-reading sequence, the indicia-capturing subsystem's output (i.e., the electric raw signal 17) is sent to the indicia-decoding subsystem 50. This electric raw signal 17 could be the last electric raw signal collected by the indicia-capturing subsystem 20 prior to the trigger condition, or it could be a new electric raw signal 17 collected immediately after the trigger condition occurs. Either way, after triggering, the electric raw signal 17 is processed and decoded by the indicia-decoding subsystem 50. After the scan sequence is complete, the device returns to stand-by mode 75 and again waits for a trigger signal 85.

Traditionally, the trigger signal 85 was obtained via a mechanically pressed switch (e.g., push button). In other words, a depressed push button established a trigger condition. In the present hand-mounted indicia-reading device, however, the trigger signal 85 can be obtained by the finger motion of the user. The mechanical switch is eliminated and with it the concerns for the mechanical failures. This non-mechanical trigger mechanism 70 is especially important in high-volume scanning environments.

In one exemplary embodiment, the trigger mechanism 70 is a photo-tripwire circuit. This circuit could include (i) a photogate light source 210, (ii) a photogate detector 220, (iii) a photogate housing 200, and (iv) circuitry for creating a trigger signal 85. This embodiment is simple and requires no image sensor but may require dedicated trigger hardware and electronics.

In another exemplary embodiment, the trigger mechanism is an image-sensing algorithm implemented by a processor. These algorithms may be stored in flash memory and may be used to analyze each frame of image data taken by the image sensor. This image sensor (e.g., CCD) can be the same image sensor 49 used for indicia capturing in order to reduce hardware complexity. A trigger condition may be established so that a trigger signal 85 is created whenever a user's finger appears within an image. In stand-by mode 75, the processor examines each image (i.e., frame) for a trigger condition and generates a trigger signal 85 to initiate an indicia-reading sequence whenever this condition is met.

A prototype of an exemplary hand-mounted indicia-reading device with an image-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism is shown in FIG. 4. In this device, the fingers (e.g., middle and ring fingers) of the user are inserted into the finger rings 105. The imaging lens 48 of the device can be positioned so that when the user makes a fist, the imaging lens points perpendicularly away from the supporting fingers. As such, the act of pointing the index finger (i.e., the index finger on the hand wearing the indicia reader) while wearing the indicia-reading device aligns the scan engine's optical axis parallel with the outstretched finger. All subsystems are supported by the user's middle and ring fingers in the area between the user's knuckle and first joint.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary hand-mounted indicia-reading device with an image-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism as it is intended to be worn in operation. When wearing the indicia-reading device, the user's formation of a first aligns the indicia-reader's field of view (i.e., FOV) 120 with the barcode 130, shown in FIG. 5 as a linear 1-D barcode. In this way, when the user points his index finger 107 (i.e., the index finger on the hand wearing the device) at the barcode 130, the barcode is positioned within the device's field of view 120 so that the barcode 130 is suitable to be captured and decoded.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the hand-mounted device for reading indicia 100 uses an area scan engine 40 as the indicia-capturing subsystem 20. Here, the image sensor 49 continuously gathers images. Each image (i.e., frame) is monitored for the presence of a triggering object (e.g., the index finger) by an algorithm run by the processor contained in the indicia-decoding subsystem 50. To start a scan using this image trigger embodiment of the trigger mechanism 70, the user moves his index finger slightly in the lateral direction toward the field of view 120 as shown in FIG. 5. When the index finger appears within the field of view 120, a trigger signal 85 is generated, and the appropriate electric raw signal 17 (e.g., the appropriate image) is sent to the indicia-decoding subsystem 50. The decoded signal 18 can then be transmitted to a host-device, memory, or a communication module before returning the indicia reader to the continual-image-gather-and-search loop (i.e., stand-by mode 75).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the trigger signal 85 need not be based on an image containing a finger. As mentioned previously, there may be other embodiments of the trigger mechanism where finger motion can trigger the indicia reader. FIG. 6 shows one such embodiment that requires no imaging for triggering. This embodiment is especially important for indicia-reading devices with linear scan engines that do not have integrated image sensors. In this case, a photogate switch, rather than an image analysis algorithm, may sense the movement of a finger.

Physically the photogate embodiment for the trigger mechanism 70 is similar to the previously mentioned image embodiment in the way that the indicia reader engages the user's hand. Two finger rings 105 are meant for the middle and ring fingers. When the user puts his fingers in the finger rings 105, the device rests on these fingers between the user's knuckle and first joint. In this embodiment, however, there is a photogate trigger assembly to detect the motion of the user's index finger. The photogate-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism includes a photogate housing 200, a light source 210, and a detector 220. When the user's fingers are curled towards the palm (i.e., formed into a fist), the photogate housing 200 is empty and the light from the source 210 hits the detector 220. When the user points his index finger at a barcode 130, the region within the photogate housing is filled and the user's finger blocks the light beam.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary hand-mounted indicia-reading device with a photogate-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism on a user's hand with the user's index-finger engaged with the photogate housing 200. In effect, the photogate-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism acts as an optical tripwire. The act of pointing the user's index finger at indicia is sufficient to block the optical beam and trigger the hand-mounted device to start the indicia-reading sequence.

In general, both non-mechanical trigger embodiments send a trigger signal 85 as a result of some motion of the user's finger (i.e., pointing at the indicia). Both embodiments also eliminate the use of a mechanical switch. The choice between the two trigger mechanisms depends primarily on the application and on the characteristics of indicia-capturing subsystem 20. Area scan engines are especially well suited for the image-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism, because the image sensor is already integrated into the indicia-reading device. Linear scan engines, on the other hand, are especially well suited for the photogate-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism. Of course, this is not to say that an area scan engine precludes the use of a photogate-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism and vice versa. Likewise the use of a linear scan engine does not preclude the use of an image-based non-mechanical trigger mechanism.

Whether the trigger signal is generated via a photogate or through image analysis, the “point and shoot” hand-mounted indicia reading device eases operation because it uses natural movements and is intuitive to use. In addition, the non-mechanical trigger mechanism eliminates any potential problems associated with conventional mechanical trigger mechanisms.

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In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The figures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. An indicia-reading device, comprising: an indicia-capturing subsystem including a multi-element image sensor for capturing images of the indicia-capturing subsystem's field of view; an indicia-decoding subsystem configured for decoding indicia in the images captured by the indicia-capturing subsystem; a hand-mounted housing substantially enclosing the indicia-capturing subsystem and the indicia-decoding subsystem, wherein the hand-mounted housing comprises finger rings to attach to the user's middle and ring fingers so that, when a user makes a first and fully extends the user's index finger, the user's index finger and the indicia-capturing subsystem are pointed substantially in the same direction; and a non-mechanical trigger mechanism configured to initiate an indicia-reading sequence performed by the indicia-capturing subsystem and the indicia-decoding subsystem if the user's index finger is detected in the images captured by the indicia-capturing subsystem.
 2. The indicia-reading device according to claim 1, comprising a processor for decoding indicia information within the indicia-capturing subsystem's field of view and for analyzing the images captured by the indicia-capturing subsystem to detect the presence of a user's finger.
 3. The indicia-reading device according to claim 1, wherein the multi-element image sensor comprises a CCD having a plurality of pixels.
 4. The indicia-reading device according to claim 3, wherein the CCD captures color images.
 5. The indicia-reading device according to claim 1, comprising a lens for imaging the indicia-capturing subsystem's field of view onto the multi-element image sensor.
 6. The indicia-reading device according to claim 1, comprising an input/output subsystem for outputting decoded signals to a host computer.
 7. The indicia-reading device according to claim 1, wherein the indicia-capturing subsystem, the indicia-decoding subsystem, and the non-mechanical trigger mechanism are powered by a battery.
 8. A method for reading indicia, comprising: providing an indicia-reading device that includes (i) an indicia-capturing subsystem for capturing images of the indicia-capturing subsystem's field of view, (ii) an indicia-decoding subsystem configured for decoding indicia information acquired by the indicia-capturing subsystem, and (iii) and a non-mechanical trigger mechanism for initiating an indicia-reading sequence via a trigger signal; capturing images of the indicia-capturing subsystem's field of view; generating a trigger signal if a user's finger is detected in the captured images; and decoding indicia information in the captured images in response to the generation of the trigger signal.
 9. The method for reading indicia according to claim 8, wherein detecting the user's index finger in the captured images comprises: pointing the indicia-capturing subsystem towards an indicium for decoding, and extending the user's index finger to point at the indicium for decoding.
 10. The method for reading indicia according to claim 9, wherein detecting the user's index finger in the captured images further comprises: laterally moving the user's index finger towards the indicia-capturing subsystem.
 11. The method for reading indicia according to claim 8, wherein the indicia-capturing subsystem comprises a multi-element image sensor.
 12. The method for reading indicia according to claim 11, wherein the multi-element image sensor is a CCD.
 13. The method for reading indicia according to claim 11, wherein the CCD captures color images.
 14. The method for reading indicia according to claim 8, wherein the indicia-reading device comprises two finger rings to attach to a user's middle and ring fingers so that when attached, the indicia-reading device rests on the user's middle and ring fingers between the user's knuckle and first joint of the middle and ring fingers.
 15. A non-mechanical triggering mechanism for a finger-mounted indicia-reading device, comprising: a multi-element image sensor for repeatedly capturing images of a field of view; and a processor communicatively coupled to the multi-element image sensor, the processor configured by software to: (i) receive each captured image from the multi-element image sensor, (ii) analyze each captured image for the presence of a finger, and (iii) generate, if a finger is present in one or more captured images, a trigger signal to initiate an indicia-reading sequence.
 16. The non-mechanical triggering mechanism for a finger-mounted indicia-reading device according to claim 15, wherein the multi-element image sensor is a CCD.
 17. The non-mechanical triggering mechanism for a finger-mounted indicia-reading device according to claim 15, wherein the finger-mounted indicia reader comprises two finger rings for a user's middle and ring fingers.
 18. The non-mechanical triggering mechanism for a finger-mounted indicia-reading device according to claim 15, wherein the finger present in the one or more captured images is the user's index finger. 